Red Cross assists displaced residents following early morning fires

Red Cross volunteers were on the scene of two unrelated early morning fires in New Orleans on Easter Sunday, according to spokeswoman for the Red Cross Melissa Eugene.

The first fire occurred shortly after 1 a.m. in the 2500 block of Claiborne Avenue. A spokesperson for the New Orleans Fire Department said the affected building contained three apartments.

It was a one alarm fire, the NOFD spokesman said, and was under control within about 30 minutes. According to the Red Cross, assistance was offered to 23 people, including 13 children.

Some of the people were provided with hotel rooms while others made arrangements to stay with relatives, Eugene said.

Just before 6 a.m., Red Cross volunteers arrived on the scene of another one alarm fire in the 1200 block of Napoleon Avenue. The building was a 4-plex, the NOFD spokesman said. According to the Red Cross, assistance was provided to 10 adults and four children.

The displaced residents also received help from the Red Cross in replacing items lost in the fire including food, clothing and medications, Eugene said. Children were also given plush toys by the volunteers.

The NOFD spokesman said the extent of damage to the two buildings is unknown at this time, but that he did not believe either building was entirely destroyed. No injuries were reported.